Geranium plant named ‘Oglger9247’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Oglger9247’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored leaves; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OGLGER9247’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger9247’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2000 in Lompoc, Calif. of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘North Star’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,971, as the female, or seed, parent with Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Lotus’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. in March, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. since March, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Oglger9247’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oglger9247’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Bright cherry rose-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘North Star’, in growth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more compact than plants of ‘North Star’.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Lotus’, in flowering habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium flower earlier and more freely than plants of ‘Lotus’.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fistablanc’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,186. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Fistablanc’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were not as compact as         plants of ‘Fistablanc’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium flowered earlier than plants         of ‘Fistablanc’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger9247’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Oglger9247’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. in a plastic-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate Zonal Geranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 19° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants had been growing for 15 weeks when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Oglger9247’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum ‘North Star’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,971.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Lotus’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 16° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading             and mounding plant habit; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit. Freely branching habit; about six primary             lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 26 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm             Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate, erose.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 146A; venation, close to 146B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation,             close to 147C. Zonation pattern: Not observed.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Rotate flowers arranged in hemispherical             umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed             above the foliage on strong peduncles. Flowers face upright             to outward; flowers slightly cupped becoming flatter with             development.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 17             flowers per umbel; about three to four developed umbels per             plant at one time.         -   Flowering season.—In Encinitas, Calif., flowering is             continuous during the spring and summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Elliptic to obovate. Color: Close to 157A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six to seven in one to             two whorls. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Roughly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 155D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 155B. Fully             opened, upper petals, upper surface: Close to 155D;             venation, close to 155D. Fully opened, lower petals, upper             surface: Close to 155D; venation, close to 155D.         -   Petaloids.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Narrowly elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.1 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.4 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eight. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 31D. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 28B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Split             into five parts, star-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145B.             Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145B.             Ovary color: Close to 147C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     2° C. to about 35° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger9247’ as illustrated and described. 